INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT CONGRESS CHAPTER 12

1. INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT CONGRESSCHAPTER 12

2. Vocabulary Congress Chapter 12 • Baker v. Carr-Joint Committee • Cloture -Logrolling • Congressional oversight -Majority leader • Constituent -Pork barrel • Earmarks -Reapportionment • Filibuster -Regulatory policy • Gerrymandering -Standing committees • Gridlock-Whips

3. Congress • Viewed as the citizens’ direct link to the branch of government that is responsible for forming public policy. • Functions include: representing the interests of constituents, lawmaking through consensus building, oversight of governmental agencies, policy clarification, and ratification of public policies.

4. Congress • Congress has come under public criticism • Polls have reflected deep voter concern regarding the issues of congressional gridlock, term limits for representatives and senators, and the influence of lobbyists and PACs on representatives. • Many newly elected representatives have committed themselves to reforming congressional structure, procedures, and practices.

5. Review of Congress according to constitution • Basis of constitutional authority is found in Article I • A House member must be at least 25 years old, an American citizen for seven years, and an inhabitant of the state the representative represents. Representatives serve two-year terms • A senator must be 30 years old, an American citizen for nine years, and a resident of the state the senator represents. Senators serve six-year terms.

6. Review of Congress according to constitution • Common powers delegated to Congress, listed in Article I Section 8 include the power to tax, coin money, declare war, and regulate foreign and interstate commerce. • Implied congressional comes from the “necessary and proper” clause, which has been referred to as the elastic clause.

7. Review of Congress according to constitution • House of Representatives has the power to begin all revenue bills, to select president if there is no electoral college majority, and to initiate impeachment proceedings. • Senate has the power to approve presidential appointments and treaties and to try impeachment proceedings. • Congress may overrule a presidential veto by a two-thirds vote of each house.

8. Reelection • In first ten years of Congress, over 1/3 of the senators resigned before the end of their terms. • In the House a large number of representatives served only one or two terms. • As political parties developed, congressional reelection rate increased. • Influential senators and representatives could use their office as an entrée to the presidency.

9. Reapportionment • Reapportionment Act of 1929 still standing law. • Provides for a permanent size of the House and provides for the number of seats, based on the census, of each state. • Each seat represents around 650,000 people • Left up to each state to determine makeup of each congressional district=charges of political gerrymandering.

10. Reapportionment • Look up and add to notes: • Wesberry v Sanders (1964) • Baker v Carr (1962) • In 1995 Court ruled that a district in Georgia, which was apportioned to create representation for African-Americans, was unconstitutional.

11. Election of Incumbents • Once elected a sitting representative has a distinct advantage (unless there is a scandal, 1992 many incumbents decided not to seek reelection or were defeated). • Statistics of incumbency are staggering: only 2 members of Congress lost in 1986, only 1 in 1988; on average fewer than 2% are defeated in primaries and less than 7% defeated in general election.

12. Election of Incumbents • Senate reelection rate is slightly lower; House members who represent smaller districts, senators represent the interests of an entire state. • Why do incumbents have this advantage? Incumbents are highly visible. • Representatives are quick to take credit for obtaining funds through legislation that favors their home districts called earmarks (called pork barrel legislation).

13. Structure • Bicameral (two-house) structure of the Congress made it a necessity to develop an organization that would allow both houses to conduct business and accomplish main function of passing legislation. • Each house has presiding officer. • Speaker is selected by the majority party.

14. Structure • 1994 mid term elections Republican chose controversial and conservative Newt Gingrich. Earned reputation as most powerful speaker, but power declined in 1996. • After loosing seats in 1998 mid term election, Gingrich resigned. • Dennis Hastert was elected and became longest serving Speaker until 2006, when Democrats elected first woman speaker, Nancy Pelosi. Now John Boehner

15. Structure • The speaker presides over the House meetings, expected to be impartial (even if member of majority party). • Very powerful: recognizes speakers, referring bills to committees, answering procedural questions, declaring the outcome of votes • Speaker Names members to all select (special) committees and conference committees.

16. Structure • Speaker usually votes only to break a tie, has power to appoint temporary speakers (pro tempore) to run meetings • Third in line after vice president to succeed the president • President of the Senate is the vice president of U.S. • Only specific power he has is to break ties.

17. Structure • Unlike the House, real power in the Senate lies with the Senate Majority Leader. • TN Senator was Senate Majority Leader for 10 years

18. The Committee System • Committee chairs, representatives who chair the standing committees of the House and Senate, wield a lot of power • Committee chairs selected as a result of the seniority system. • Four types of committees exist in both houses • Standing committees deal with proposed bills and are permanent, existing from one Congress to the next.

19. The Committee System • Examples of standing committees are Banking, Foreign Affairs, Energy, Governmental Affairs, and Appropriations • Select committees are specially created and conduct special investigations. Ex: Watergate Committee, Whitewater affair • Joint committees are made up of both houses for the purpose of coordinating investigations/special studies and to expedite business between both houses.

20. The Committee System • Conference committees resolve legislative differences between the House and Senate. • Ex: Crime Bill of 1994 and Welfare Reform Act of 1996 had to go through a conference committee. • Many bills must be resolved in this manner. • Committee makeup is determined by the percentage of party representation in each house.

21. The Committee System • Each house has a party system that organizes and influences the members of Congress regarding policymaking decisions. • Majority and minority leaders of both houses organize their members using whips (assistant floor leaders). • Whips are responsible for keeping party members in line and having an accurate count of who will be voting for/against a bill.